Re: Does Codd's view of a relational database differ from that ofDate& Darwin? [M.Gittens]
From: paul c <toledobythesea_at_oohay.ac>
Date: Mon, 06 Jun 2005 17:12:23 GMT
Message-ID: <Xt%oe.1586185$Xk.1565074_at_pd7tw3no>
>
>
> Because the empty string or zeros might also be valid values.
> ...
Date: Mon, 06 Jun 2005 17:12:23 GMT
Message-ID: <Xt%oe.1586185$Xk.1565074_at_pd7tw3no>
Paul wrote:
> paul c wrote:
>
>>i'd like to know what problem the never-ending arguments about nulls are >>aimed at. in mundane applications at least (which i think is where most >>people spend their time), what is the problem with using empty strings >>for unknown names or zeroes for unknown number values?
>
>
> Because the empty string or zeros might also be valid values.
> ...
perhaps i confused things a little by mentioning empty strings instead
of blanks. personally, i find it hard to care whether i know that i
don't know a person's name or whether i simply call him him Mr. 'blank'.
maybe i know the wrong people but most people i know are content
with items on an invoice having a price of zero dollars (maybe i shipped
an item an item before i knew its price) assuming this is anticipated by
p Received on Mon Jun 06 2005 - 19:12:23 CEST